Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“I’ve had a very busy week.” Miss Starling sighs heavily, not glancing my way, because I’m the guy responsible for that ‘very busy week.’
I have no interest in hanging out alone with Charlotte and Randall, so I wave a hand toward our waiter, who is standing near the entrance to the kitchen. “I need to get home, too.”
Miss Starling glances at me. “You do?”
If home is a bar with top-shelf vodka, I do. My apartment offers me nothing but a place to rest my head and store my clothes and watches.
“I’ll call my driver,” I offer because I can’t wait to see the expression on her face. “We’ll drop you at your home first.”
I’ve never seen someone look completely shocked and so fucking beautiful at the same time.
“No.” She shakes her head. “There’s no need for that, Mr. Hunt.”
Randall laughs. “It’s Reid, Evie. You’re not in the office now, so drop the formalities.”
As Miss Starling glances my way, she bites the corner of her bottom lip, sending my pulse racing.
No. No. No.
I have worked damn hard not to let my desire take control when I’m around her. I’ve won that battle for over a year, but watching her chew on her lip that way makes me want to do the same to it.
I spot the waiter on the approach, so I suck in a breath of rose-scented air, which does fuck all to crush the growing need inside of me.
I yank out my wallet again and shove my credit card at him. “Close the bill out when the happy couple leaves. I think they’ll be indulging in dessert.”
Reaching for my card, he nods. “You won’t be staying, sir? You’re missing out on the best chocolate mousse in Manhattan.”
“Chocolate mousse?” Charlotte croons. “Evie will love that. Chocolate was her favorite when we were sampling cakes for the wedding.”
I save that fact to memory since it feels important.
“I’m stuffed.” Miss Starling leans back in her chair, once again giving me a bird’s eye view of the top of her tits. “I’m passing on dessert, too.”
I punch out a text message to my driver. “The car will be here shortly.”
“Thank you for the offer of the ride.” Miss Starling takes a deep, audible breath. “I can get home on my own.”
“I insist on taking you.” I lower my voice. “It will give us a chance to talk about the wedding.”
I have zero intention of talking about the wedding. I do want to talk about what transpired tonight including the boss from hell comment.
“I guess a ride can’t hurt. Thank you, Reid.”
That sends my gaze up to her face because, goddammit, that’s the best my name has ever sounded. It doesn’t strike me in the same way as the first time she said it. Hearing it fall from her lips this time hits different.
“I’ll swipe this for you,” the waiter says to Miss Starling’s breasts as he waves my credit card in the air.
“Now,” I suggest in a stern tone. “Evangeline and I are leaving.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Evie
I slide onto the backseat of the black SUV waiting for us at the curb when we exit Nova.
Mr. Hunt tosses the driver one of those silent nods he often does to other employees when they stop by to chat at my desk. It’s a notch below a simple “hello,” but my boss prefers lifting and lowering his chin to being outright cordial.
Since I’ve never been the silent nod type, I greet the driver by name. It’s Basil. He’s the same driver Mr. Hunt has been using since I started working at Vidori.
Mr. Hunt gets in next to me before Basil softly closes the car door.
Once he’s back behind the wheel, I clear my throat. “Basil, can you drop me off at the corner of…”
“She’s going home with me,” my boss blurts out, interrupting my request to be dropped off at a corner three blocks from where I live. “Take us to my apartment.”
My head snaps in his direction. “No.”
“Yes,” he insists with a sharp glance aimed right at me. “We need to talk, Evangeline.”
“We can talk on Monday,” I suggest in an even tone, even though my emotions are tied up in knots.
I need tomorrow to collect not only my thoughts but my courage, too. I can’t imagine he’ll overlook the boss from hell comment forever, and I’m still holding onto a sliver of hope that I’ll find a way to keep my job.
“I want to talk now.” He glances at the back of Basil’s head before he levels his gaze on me again. “This can’t wait.”
I try one last approach to bide me more time before I confess everything to him. “I had a lot of champagne tonight, sir. I’ll be much more level-headed on Monday morning. I can meet you in your office at nine a.m., and once we’re done talking, I’ll get right to work.”